Can you really disable powerline communications and a few other questions

[502ss]

So I just replaced my PLM (other one was 2+ years old and starting to see some strange behaviors). Well the new PLM is seeing the same strange behaviors. (IOlinc triggering all by itself, communication failure messages in ISY admin console, lights sometimes turning off randomly, etc.). I am not so convinced the PLM was dying but it was time for a replacement regardless!

 

I have about 30 RF devices in my home and figured I had decent RF coverage so I wanted to investigate disabling the powerline option. I know this cant be done via software but I read in another thread on here that you can plug the PLM into a filter linc? Will that really filter out all poweline communications?

 

If yes, then if the PLM only sends via RF will all the other dual band devices also only communicate vi RF?

 

Along the same lines. Has anyone tried to map out their RF signal coverage using an RF signal detector?

 

Thanks

Jim

 

[paulbates]

Hi Jim

That will filter out all RF communications to and from the PLM, but not between dual band devices on your network. The nature of dualband devices, including access points / range extenders... is that they are dumb and simply bridge when they see a signal come to them. So there will be significant amount of powerline communications even with the plm in a filterlinc. 

 

Dualband devices are designed to work dual band.  My efforts debugging rf involve a combination of:

• observing where the wiring for an outlet or switch actually goes, there can be some big surprises 
• trial and error with dualband devices and access points. I've found it better to take care of all of the basics like bridging, and address problem areas / circuits as identifiable problems appear.

Paul

[Brian H]

Some of the latest versions of Insteon Modules. Do have a option to have power line or RF communications turned off.

As Paul pointed out.

Filtering the PLM would disable its power line communications.

The rest of the dual band modules will still use RF and power line. Unless new enough to habe the power line communications disabled.

I tried a fairly inexpensive RF spectrum analyzer on my system. Was not overly informative. As there where all kinds of RF signals being bounced from dual band to dual band modules.